Getting Around

If you rent a car, you'll make the most efficient use of your time. While you may get a cheaper deal from a local rental company, national chains such as Avis (tel 800/874-3556), Hertz (tel 800/654-3131) and Budget (tel 800/468-5822) are very likely to be more reliable, and offer 24-hour emergency service. Weekly rates for an economy car in San Juan start at around US$280. AAA (tel 800/222-4357 or 787/764-4913) also operates emergency roadside assistance for members. Driver's licences from the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are valid for up to three months.

Highways are fast and fairly well maintained. As in the US, motorists drive on the right side and speed limits are posted in miles per hour. Unlike the US, distances are posted in kilometres and road signs are in Spanish. In the cities, be aware that drivers are often reckless and impatient.

While Puerto Rico is without islandwide bus or rail transportation from city to city, públicos are an inexpensive, if less than efficient, way to traverse the island. Part-bus, part-taxi, these vehicles transport up to ten people over somewhat flexible routes and distances Monday to Saturday. A trip from San Juan to Ponce costs about US$10 one-way, US$20 round-trip. Each city has its own terminal; most don't have phone numbers, however, so you have to go there in person to ask about schedules.

In San Juan, the terminal is in Rio Piedras. You can also call the público line and ask them to pick you up at your hotel, but expect to pay an additional US$3 or US$4. Don't be surprised if you have to wait at least an hour, at either the terminal or your hotel. While públicos are inexpensive, they make frequent stops, so travel over great distances can be extremely slow.

Major público lines
The following services all originate in San Juan:

Blue Line tel 787/765-7733 (to Rio Piedras, Aguadilla, Aguada, Moca, Isabele and other destinations)

Chóferes Unidos de Ponce tel 787/764-0540 (to Ponce and other destinations)

Línea Boricúa tel 787/765-1908 (to Lares, Ponce, Jayuya, Utuado, San Sebastian and other destinations)

Línea Caborrojena tel 787/723-9155 (to Cabo Rojo, San Germán and other destinations)

Línea Sultana tel 787/765-9377 (to Mayagüez and other destinations)

Terminal de Transportación Pública tel 787/250-0717 (to Fajardo and other destinations)
Daily domestic flights depart from San Juan's international airport for Aguadilla, Fajardo, Mayagüez and Ponce. Frequent commuter flights for Vieques and Culebra depart from the Fernando L. Rivas Dominici Airport (tel 787/729-8711) in Isla Grande, near the San Juan neighbourhood of Miramar, and from Fajardo. Vieques and Culebra can also be reached by daily ferries from Fajardo.